Ranbaxy ties up with Zenotech for biosimilar prod

New Delhi, Feb 7: Ranbaxy Laboratories today announced signing of a global development and marketing agreement with Hyderabad-based Zenotech Laboratories Ltd for its first biosimilar product, G-CSF (filgrastim).

G-CSF is used to prevent infections from cancer chemotherapy-induced neutropenia (decrease in the number of a type of white-blood cells).

The global market for neutropenia treatment is over four billion dollars, while the global G-CSF market is about 1.6 billion dollars.

''This agreement signals Ranbaxy's foray into biosimilars by pooling in its regulatory and front-end infrastructure with Zenotech's expertise in the development arid manufacture of biosimilar products. This also strengthens our existing alliance with Zenotech for Oncology products given our strategic stake in the company,'' Ranbaxy Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director Malvinder Mohan Singh said.

Biosimilars are generic versions of biotherapeutics using recombinant DNA technology.

''So far, no Indian biosimilar product has been launched in the EU due to the substantial investments involved in clinical trials and the regulatory expertise required. Both these aspects pose significant barriers to entry,'' the company said.

UNI